Per diemPosted 6 days ago
Occupational Therapist- Per Diem
Select Medical · Milwaukee, WI
Pay range with your report
New this week
Occupational Therapist jobs in Milwaukee, WI
Occupational Therapists in the Milwaukee area earn a median of $42.16 per hour, about $87,690 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $38.05 and $48.05. That ranks 245th of 354 U.S. metro areas for occupational therapist pay, and 264th of 327 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 8 hospitals in Milwaukee. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Milwaukee.
- $42.16median pay per hour, Milwaukee
- $38–$48typical range per hour
- 1,130occupational therapists employed in the metro area
- 97cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Occupational Therapist roles in Milwaukee
3 more open roles from employers in Milwaukee. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Occupational Therapist Lymphedema
Ascension Health · Milwaukee, WI
Pay range with your report
PermanentPosted 17 days ago
Occupational Therapist
Ascension Health · Milwaukee, WI
Pay range with your report
Occupational Therapist pay in Milwaukee, WI
The metro median is 1% above the Wisconsin statewide median of $41.66 per hour. Nationally the median is $47.28 per hour. BLS counts about 1,130 occupational therapists employed in the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area, 1.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.39).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $35.77 | $74,400 | 24% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $38.05 | $79,140 | 20% below U.S. median |
| Median | $42.16 | $87,690 | 11% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $48.05 | $99,940 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $51.62 | $107,370 | 9% above U.S. median |
How Milwaukee ranks
- 245th of 354 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 264th of 327 after adjusting for local prices
- 5th of 12 Wisconsin metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Occupational Therapists (SOC 29-1122), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
Get the Milwaukee Occupational Therapist pay report
Named employers near Milwaukee, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in Milwaukee
- Overall prices in Milwaukee-Waukesha run 3% below the U.S. average (index 96.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 3% below the U.S. average (index 97.1).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $42.16 median hour buys what $43.49 buys at the national price level, 8% below the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Estimate your Milwaukee paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$1,518
- Per year: $75,888
- Per month: $6,324
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Milwaukee
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $140 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,540 |
| 13-week assignment | $20,020 |
Travel occupational therapist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Open Occupational Therapist roles in Wisconsin
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Milwaukee as they open.
Per diemPosted 30+ days ago
Occupational Therapist - Inpatient PRN
Mercy · Wisconsin
$60.00–$60.00/ hour
Top 25% pay
PermanentPosted 30+ days ago
Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT) - Prevea Outpatient
Hospital Sisters Health System · De Pere, WI
$34.21–$51.31/ hour
For youUpdated weekly
70+ more Occupational Therapist roles for you in Wisconsin
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Hospitals in Milwaukee
CMS lists 8 hospitals in Milwaukee, 2 of the 6 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of occupational therapists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascension Se Wisconsin Hospital Milwaukee, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Aurora St Lukes Medical Center Milwaukee, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Ascension Columbia St Marys Hospital Milwaukee Milwaukee, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Ascension St Francis Hospital Milwaukee, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital Milwaukee, WI | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Milwaukee Va Medical Center Milwaukee, WI | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Childrens Hospital Of Wisconsin Milwaukee, WI | Children's | Nonprofit | Not rated | Yes |
| Mental Health Emergency Center, Inc Milwaukee, WI | Psychiatric | Nonprofit | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Occupational Therapist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Allis, WI | 5 mi | $42.16/hr | 59,784 |
| Waukesha, WI | 15 mi | $42.16/hr | 71,461 |
| Racine, WI | 25 mi | $40.08/hr | 78,057 |
| Kenosha, WI | 33 mi | $43.00/hr | 99,578 |
| Waukegan, IL | 48 mi | $48.53/hr | 88,570 |
| Janesville, WI | 59 mi | $42.80/hr | 66,428 |
Occupational Therapist jobs in Wisconsin · Occupational Therapist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Wisconsin
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Wisconsin taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Milwaukee
Milwaukee city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do occupational therapists make in Milwaukee, WI?
Occupational Therapists in the Milwaukee-Waukesha metro area have a median pay of $42.16 per hour, about $87,690 a year. The middle half earn between $38.05 and $48.05 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Milwaukee a good place for occupational therapists once cost of living is counted?
Milwaukee-Waukesha ranks 264th of 327 metro areas for occupational therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 245th of 354 before adjusting. Overall prices run 3% below the U.S. average.
Where do occupational therapists work in Milwaukee?
CMS lists 8 hospitals in Milwaukee, led by Ascension Se Wisconsin Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Wisconsin license to work in Milwaukee as an occupational therapist?
Master’s or doctoral degree in occupational therapy. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Wisconsin requires for your role with the Wisconsin licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Milwaukee?
The federal per diem benchmark in Milwaukee is $140 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,540 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place occupational therapists in Milwaukee?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Milwaukee.
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What do employers near Milwaukee pay occupational therapists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other hospitals
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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70+ Occupational Therapist roles in Wisconsin, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your OT pay reportMilwaukee, WI · employer-reported wage offers in federal filings, July 2025 – June 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Agnesian HealthCare, Inc.Waupun, WI · 1 wage offer$35.81/ hr$36–$36
- Grandison Management, Inc.Manitowoc, WI · 1 wage offer$34.64/ hr$35–$35
- Grandison Management, Inc.Tomahawk, WI · 1 wage offer$34.64/ hr$35–$35
- Grandison Management, Inc.Green Bay, WI · 1 wage offer$33.16/ hr$33–$33
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$34Median$34.55High$35
11 employer-reported wage offers for OT in federal filings in Wisconsin, July 2025 – June 2026. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 2 OT roles
- Occupational Therapist - Inpatient PRNPer diem$60.00–$60.00/ hour
- Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT) - Prevea OutpatientPermanent$34.21–$51.31/ hour
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.